Clasp for collars



Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a clasp for collars, and more particularly to such a clasp having a collar button in combination therewith.

I One feature of this invention is that it keeps "6 the collar in proper position; another feature of this, invention is that it keeps the tie in desired relationship tothe collar; still another feature is that the clasp is prevented from sliding down or being knocked off the collar; yet another feature is that the clasp is held centered with respect to the edges of the collar, and at a proper height thereon; another feature of this invention is that itserves also as a collar button to hold the ends of the band of the collar together; yet anconveniently placed in position or removed; a further feature of this invention is that it maintains a neat and presentable appearance of the combination of col1ar,tie and clasp; other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is aperspective view of the device as it appears upon a wearer thereof; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device; Fig. 3 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in top plan, showing the fastening means more particularly; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the device with the two parts thereof separated.

The soft collar now so generally worn, whether it be of the type integral with the shirt or separate therefrom, practically necessitates the use of a clasp of some kind in order to keep its front edge portions and point reasonably unwrinkled and in proper relationship to each other and to the tie. At present the clasp most generally used comprises a transverse bar with means for engaging the front edge portions of the collar at each end of the clasp. This type of clasp is objectionable, however, in that it is very easily disarranged or even completely knocked out of its position- The collar, of course, twists and moves somewhat during movement of the neck and shoulders of the wearer, and sometimes this is suflicient to cause one end of the clasp to slide way down to the point or even lose its grip on the edge of the collar entirely. This is particularly true where the wearer drops his chin and neck forward, since that causes the front edge portions of the collar to spread further apart, and also puts'a downward pressure on the-clasp through the tie. Even when the throat or chin of the wearer does not exert such downward pressure the weight of the tie and the pull on it exerts a continuous downward pull on. the clasp other feature is that the entire device may be tending to force it out of position and disarrange the desired relationship of the clasp, tie and collar.

The present invention overcomes these and other objections by forming a device which serves 1 both as a collar button and as a clasp, with the clasp so fastened to the collar button that the whole is stabilized and the clasp is kept in the desired position both with respect to the collar and to the tie. Since the clasp is thus centrally held in the collar, movement of the wearer cannot force it either sideways or downward from its proper position and thus there is no tendency for it to lose its grip on the edges of the collar or to otherwise become disarranged.

In the particular embodiment of this invention illustrated herewith the device I0 is shown in place on the collar l I of the wearer, beneath the tie 12. It will be noted that the knot of the tie is held slightly up in desired position, and that the clasp is level and centrally disposed with respect to the edge portions l3 and M of the collar.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that, the device comprises two principal parts. A clasp analogous to the usual type is provided by a transverse bar l5 having means at each end thereof adapted to frictionally engage the front edge portions l3 and M of the collar, the means here being shown as spring members It and H. The clasp engages the edge of the collar in the usual manner, as by forcing the spring member 16 slightly away from the bar l5 and inserting the edge of the collar therebetween, whereupon the tension of the spring member causes the edge of the collar to be frictionally. gripped.

The other principal portion of the device is the collar button l8, having a shank l9 and rather large back button portion 20 adapted to lie inside the band of the collar next to the neck of the wearer, and a forward smaller button portion 21 adapted to lie in front of the collar band.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that fastening means for attaching the clasp to the collar button is provided, here shown as a ball 22 at the center of the transverse bar or clasp l5, and a socket 23 in the portion 2| of the collar button. The socket 23 has therein spring members 24 adapted to yieldingly engage the reduced throat portion 25 of the ball 22. This forms a fastening means or method of attachment of the clasp to the collar button which has a snap action which is very easy to operate, and yet which maintains the clasp and collar button in proper relationship to each other when in use on a collar.

In order to place the device in position in the collar of a wearer, the collar button I8 is first placed inside of the band and the small portion 2| forced through the openings or buttonholes found in each end of the collar band, in order to perform the function of the conventional collar button in holding the band about the neck of the wearer. The tie I2 is then inserted and knotted.

The transverse bar or clasp proper is then placed beneath the tie and pushed into engagement with each front edge portion of the collar. After this has been properly centered and placed at the height of the collar button, the clasp is fastened to the collar button by snapping the ball 22 into the socket 23 provided therefor. The whole device is then looked in position in such a way that it maintains the desired neat and presentable appearance even under activity and usage which would completely disarrange the present conventional clasp.

While the preferred embodiment of this inven- -tion has the ball on the clasp, as shown in Figs.

2 and 3, another embodiment of this invention is illustrated in Fig. 4. Here the bar 26 has at the center thereof a socket 21 adapted to receive a ball 28 on the collar button 29. The principle of operation of the embodiment illustrated in this figure is, of course, similar to that heretofore described in connection with that illustrated in Figs.

2 and 3, and will not be repeated at this time. Either of the forms may, of course, be made of metal or other desired material, and shaped and embellished in any design which provides a pleasing appearance.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claim, in which it is my in tention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

Apparatus for holding a collar and tie in proper position, including: a transverse bar member of sufficient length to extend from one front edge portion of said collar to the other front edge portion thereof, beneath said tie; means on each end of said bar adapted to frictionally engage the edge portions of said collar; a collar button member adapted to be received by registering openings in each end of the band of said collar; a ball on one of said members; and a cup shaped socket on the other of said members having spring means therein and adapted to yieldingly retain said ball, movement of said ball member into and out of said socket being in a substantially horizontal direction.

JOSEPH H. HECKMAN. 

